Drier



E. C. HORST.

DR'IEH. APPLICATION FILED APRJS. IQIB.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

Inzfefiow mail '.Hofs

EMIL CLEMENS HORST, F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DRIER.

Application mea Apr-i123, 191s. serial No. 230,315.

' To all whom, #may concern.'

Be it known that I, EMIL CLEMENS HORST, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Driers, of which the llt following is a specification.

This invention relates to a drier.

@ne of the objects` of the present invention is to provide a-'simple, efficient form of drier for food vegetables and the ike, and particularly to provide means for maintaining a flow of air through the drier and for increasing the temperature of the air during its passage through the drier. Another object of .l

the invention is to form a series of adjacent 'vertical chambers for the reception of drying traysand to provide .connecting passages between the upper and lower ends of the vertical chambers which will permit theair to pass alternately up and down through the successive chambers. Another object of the invention is to provide means for re- V'it versing the direction of flow of air through the chambers land. to so arrange the trays that the air will not only pass through the same but also over and under each tray during its passage through the chambers. Another object of the invention isto provide means for preheating the incoming air by passing it through a' preheater which is heated by the hot moisture-laden air discharging from the drier. Further objects lwill hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a horizontal 'longitudinal section through the drier.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section.`

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross'section through the lower portion ofthe drier taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. i j

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of the trays.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates in general a housing consisting o f a pair of side walls 2, end walls 3, a bottom section 4 and a top or cover 5. Dividing the interior chamber into a plurality of vertical chambers is a plurality of baiiie plates or partition walls 6, 7 and 8. These walls extend crosswise of the housing, as shown in Figs. l and 2,. the walls Gand 8 extendproducts, such as fruits,

ing from the bottom of the housing to a point adjacent the top, while the center wall Speciication of Letters Patent. i Patented Dec. 23, 1919. i

7 extends from thetop to a point adjacent the bottom section. `I n other words, a space or passage is left between the top and the partitions 6 and 8, and Similarly between the bottom -and the partition 7.

Each chamber is provided with shelves 9v for the reception of trays 10, and these trays maybe removed to permit the product to be dried to be placed thereon and to be removed when dried. 'lhe partition walls 6, 7 and 8 divide the housing into four vertical chambers 11, 12, 13 and 14, the chambers l1 and 1 4 beingeacli provided with air inlet andoutlet pipes, such as shown at 15 and 16. rlhe pipes extend through the side walls, as shown in Fig. .3, and are united by a 'l'- iitting 17. .A short pipe section 18 is placed in the lower side of the litting to direct the incoming air in a downward direction against the bowl 19 which deflects and distributes the air in all directions. There is one bowl 19 in each of the chambers 11 and 14 -and there is one inlet and outlet pipe connected, as shown in Fig. 3. rlhe pipe 15 is connected with the discharge side of a blower 20, while the pipe 16 is connected with a preheater 21 which surrounds an inlet pipe 22 connected with the suction side 23 of the blower. charging pipes entering the chambers 11 and Both the inlet and dis- 14 are provided with dampers, Such as shown at 23, 24, 25 and 26. rllhese serveas a means for reversing the flow of air through the vertical chambers. For instance, if itis desired to admit the incoming air to the chamber 11, this is accomplished by opening the dampers 23 and 25 and closing the dampers 24 and 26. The air will therefore enter through the damper 23 and discharge downwardly into the bowl 19 in chamber 11 where it is quickly distributed and here passes upwardly through the trays in chamber 11, then over the partition wall 6 into chamber 12 where it passes. downwardly through the trays and again .passes under the 4partition wall 7 and up through cham- 105 The air before nally heated before it by utilizing the heat of the hot moistureladen air when it discharges, and, as the` incoming a1r 1s under most condltlons comparatively cool, it can readily be seen that the preheating arrangement provided4 permits a considerable saving.

g By referring to Fig, 4, it will be seen that each tray consists of a rectangular frame 30 which is provided with a screen bottom 31.

The trays, when loaded,- are preferably left uncovered near one end, as indicated at 32.

The trays when inserted or placed upon the shelves in the vertical drying compartments 11, 12, 13 and 14 are alternately reversed, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the air, when passing either upwardly througha chamber or downwardly through the same, willtend to passin zig-zag fashion, as indicated by the arrows, over and under the trays and also partly through the same, the air having thegreatest tendency to travel zig-zag fash' ion when the material to be dried is comparatively wet, as it adheres more closely to the screen and will have more of a tendency-to travel in a straight direction up or down through the trays when the product is partly dried, as the product shrivels'and shrinks to such an extent that the meshes of the screen become more or less uncovered, thereby permitting the air to pass directly through the trays. Each tray may be provided with a cross strip 32, if desired, to prevent the product to be dried from coveringthe entire screen, `thus insuring a free passage of air at one end of the tray.

- Interposed between the trays oralternate layers of same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

is a series ofsteam heating coils 33.2 These coils are arranged 'at suitableintervals andv have a tendency to increase the temperature of the air. during its passage through the several chambers. The incoming lair from the blower may, for instance, have a temperature ofapproximately 100 .F., but by passing between the several heating coils shown, itis obvious that the temperature may be increased to any degree desired.' In actual practice, I found that most fruits and vegetables will stand a temperature as high as 160 F. without discoloring. It is v therefore advantageous to gradually increase the temperature of the jair as the moisture-carrying capacity of the same increases in proportion to its temperature. lFor instance, 10,000fcubic' feet of air at 100 F. 'can absorb as much as 30 pounds of Water, while' the same air when increased in temperature to 160 F. can carry as much as 130 pounds. 'It can therefore be readily seen that it is very beneficial to increase the temperature of the air during its passage through the drier, as it is becoming more and more moisture-laden during its passage. This is one of the important features of the invention, as it greatly increases the capacity and eiiciency of a drier constructed as here shown.

The gradual increase of air temperature during passage through the drier may be e controlled to a nicety in the 'present instance, as each heating coil 33 is connected at one end with a live steam pipe, such as shown at -34,'and provided with a regulating valve 35,v while the opposite end of each coil is connected to an exhaust pipe 36. Practicall any rise in temperature may thus be o tained, as`each succeeding coil it is only necessary to open the dampers 23 and 25 and toclose the opposite dampers. Conversely, if it is desired to reverse the flow and pass it in a general direction opposite to that indicated by arrow a, it is only necessary to open the dampers 24 and 26 and close the opposite dampers. Theair when -passing through the drier after it is once loaded may be reversed as often as desired, permitting every tray to .be evenly dried and exposed to air from all sides, as thereversing of the air current will .first cause the air t6 pass downwardly throughl a tray and thenupwardlythrough the same, and

'at all times partially over and under each tray, Whether the air is flowing 4in one direction or another, this being due to thc staggering of the trays as previously described.

Having thus described my invention, what .I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.:

1. A drier comprising a housing, a plurality of partition walls extendin r crosswise .of the housing and dividing t e housing into a plurality of adjacent vertical chambers, each alternate wall being spaced lili , one direction or the other.

a plurality oit adjacent vertical chambers,l

pipes, a damper in each pipe to permit reversal of the air through the vertical chambers in the housing and means for increasing the temperature of the air during its passage through the vertical chambers in the housing whetherV passing in one.I direc- .tion or the other.

' 2. A drier comprising ahousing, a plurality oi partition walls extending crosswise of the housing and dividing-the 4housing into a plurality oit adjace t vertical chambers,

`eachvalternate wall being spaced from the top and each. intermediate wall from the bottom of the casing .to form connecting passages therebetween, an' inlet and an outlet'pipe connected with each vertical end chamber'tormed by the partition walls, a blower connected with the inlet pipes, a discharge pipe connected with the outlet pipes,

a damper in each pipe to permit reversal of the air through the vertical chambers in the housing, means for increasing the'tempera-v ture or" the air during its passage through 3.` A drier comprising a housing,ya plurality oitpartition walls extending crosswise of the housing and dividing the housing into each alternate wall being spaced from the lill Alb

top and each intermediate wall from the Vbottom oit the casing to form connecting passages therebetween, an inlet and an outlet pipe .connected'with each vertical ,end -i chamber formed-by the partition walls, a

blower connected withthe inlet pi es, a'discharge pipe connected with the ou let pi es,

a dam-per in each. pipe to `permit reversa ofl the air through the vertical chambers in the housing, means ritor increasing the temperature .of the air during, its passage through other', an `inlet pipe connected withV the' blower, a preheater surrounding said pipe,

lsaid the vertical chambers in the housing whether passing in one .direction or the reheater being connectedV with the atmosp creasingithe'temperature vofthe air during its passage through the casin whether it is flowing in one direction or t e other, said means comprising a plurality of heating coils positioned in .each vertical chamber, means for admitting steam through said coils, and means tor regulating the quantity of steam passing through-each coil.

d, A drier comprising'a housing, a plu'-` is dowing in` vertical chamber and means tor re the .flow'o't steam through each heatin coil. ere'at one end and with the air out.4 ian `let pipes at the opposite end, means for inrality of partition walls in said housin di jacent vertical c ambers, said partition walls being alternately spaced from the top and each intermediate wall from the bottom of the housing to form connecting air pasviding the housin into a plurality or 'ad i sages, means for supporting a plurality oi super osed separated trays in each vertical cham' er, means for passing. a' current of air from end to end of theA housing alternately upwardly and downwardly through the adjacent vertical chambers, and means for reversing the How of air through said chambers.

5.v 'it drier comprising a housing, a 'plu'- vidingthe housing into a plurality o adjacent vertical chambers, ysaid partition .walls being alternately spacedv from the top aiid'each intermediate. wall from the through the adjacent vertical chambers,

means for reversing the dow of air through said chambers, and means for staggering the trays to permit the air to pass over and Vunder' the trays in each chamber.

6. A drier comprising a housing, a plurality ot partition walls in said housing vdividing the housing into a plurality of adjacent yvertical chambers, said partition walls being alternately spaced from the top and .each intermediate wall trom the bottom lof the housing Ato form connecting air passages, means'itor supporting a plurality ot super osed separated trays in each vertical chain er, means tor passing a current ot air `from end to end. of .the housing alternately upw'aidly and downwardly through the adjacent vertical chamberameans for reversing the-How'ofv air through said chambers,

ico

ict

means tor staggering' the trays to permit the air -to "ass 'over and under the trays in cach cham er, and-means for increasing the temperature oit the airvduring its passage through theyertical chambers, said means comprising' `a plurality ot steam heating coils interposed between thetrays and each 7. In a .drier of the character descri ed, a

llllli lating i i plurality of bseparate closed contiguous'v chambers with partition walls having passages alternately` at the top and bottom, trays superposed 1in each -chamber fand having openings; at 'alternate ends to permit a con-l of airmay'be'induced,`and reversed to How its i tinuous flow of ain-means by which the flow through the chambersv in' either direction,

meansb which the 'heat (if the air may be increase as it passesthrough the chambers,

80 rality of partition walls in said housin div and an inlet. supply pipe passing through the pre-heater.

8. In a drier of the character described,

an incldsing housing, transverse vertical partition walls dividing the inclosed space into' separate chambers, said walls having communicatingpassages alternately at the top and bottom, and each chamber having separated supports, trays upon said supports with air directing passages at alternate ends to inducea zig-zag current, pipes through which air under pressure may be admitted to either of the end chambers, and valves by which the flow may be reversed, concave 15 bowls, and pipe `connection through which the admitted a1r is discharged into the bowls and dispersed through the chambers.

In testimony whereof I'have hereunto set my hand in the presence otwosubscribing 20 witnesses. l

EMIL CLEMENS HORST Witnesses:

Trios. CASTBERG, JOHN H. HERRING. 

